Removable grip positioner for golf clubs



June 14, 1966 B. FRAZELLE 3,

REMOVABLE GRIP POSITIONER FOR GOLF CLUBS Filed June 7, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.1

INVENTOR. JAY B. FRAZ ELLE June 14, 1966 J. B. FRAZELLE 3,255,023

REMOVABLE GRIP PQSITIONER FOR GOLF CLUBS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.|3

Filed June 7, 1963 5 FIG. 10

D I I I I G ,--cL

\ D I A c"-CL C FIG. I2 INVENTOR JAY B. FRAZELLE 9L g4 r W United States Patent 3,256,023 REMOVABLE GRIP POSITIONER FOR GOLF CLUBS Jay B. Frazelie, 1543 Bellevilie Way, Sunnyvale, Calif. Filed June 7, 1963, Ser. No. 286,350 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-465) This invention relates to a hand positioner for devel oping a desired hand grip on a handle and has particular application to the handles of golf clubs.

One of the more troublesome problems encountered by part time golfers is that of developing and maintaining the proper hand position on the handle of the golf club. Even with the benefit of some initial professional instruction, the average weekend golfer finds it almost impossible to achieve the constantly accurate position of the hands on the club handle necessary to avoid stroke inconsistencies and related problems resulting from both improper hand position and variation in hand position from club to club. It is a primary object of the present invention to position a golfers hands correctly and consistently on each club in the set. It is a related object to achieve this accurate hand positioning by structure which can be readily attached to or detached from the club handle and which offers no interference to the necessary motion of the hands during the club stroke.

In accordance wit-h the present invention a flexible band member, resembling a band aid, is attached to a club handle at a predetermined location and orientation on the club handle. A flange or tab projects outwardly from the band member and is insertable between the thumb and forefinger to locate the hand at the desired location and angle on the handle. Two of these hand positioners, one for each hand, are preferably used on each club handle. The flange is preferably detachably connected to the band member as by clip. Thus, the flange can be removed and the band member left in place when it is not desired to make use of the hand positioner. This comprises a further object of the present invention.

A further object of the present invention is a templet construction which enables the location and orientation of the hand positioners on one club handle to be transferred and accurately marked on other club handles in the set.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and what is now considered to be the best mode contemplated for applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view of a golf club showing hand positioners constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention attached to the club handle;

'FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view, with a golfers hands shown in phantom, illustrating the manner in which the hand positioners illustrated in FIG., 1 are insertable between the thumb and forefinger to locate the golfers hands in the proper position on the club handle;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view, slightly greater than actual size, of the hand positioner shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the manner in which the flange member is detachably connected to the band member;

Patented June 14, 1966 ice FIG. 4 is an elevation view taken along the line and in the direction indicated by the arrows 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the band member of the hand positioner shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is -a cross sectional view taken along the line and in the direction indicated by the arrows 66 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross section view like FIG. 6, showing a modification of the :band construction;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation View of the flange member;

FIG. 9 is an end elevation view of the flange member shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view of a golf club handle showing the handle marked to receive the hand positioners shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is one form of a templet which can be used to transfer the hand positioner locations and orientations from one club handle to other club handles in the set;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of another, two piece templet used for the same purpose as the templet shown in FIG. ll; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a pin holder and detachable pin which can be used in connection with a templet like. that shown in FIG. 11.

In FIG. 1 hand positioners 21 constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention are shown operatively mounted on a golf club handle 22. Each hand positioner 21 includes a flexible band 23 and an upstanding flange or tab 24. Each hand positioner 23 is located at a selected distance from the upper end of the club handle 22 and each flange 24 is aligned with a line, A-B and C-D, respectively, disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to a center line CL of the golf club. The position and angular inclination of the flanges 24 are those necessary to position the golfers hands in the desired, professional type grip when the flanges are inserted in the V-notch between the thumb and forefinger of the left and right hands in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2.

As best illustrated in FIG. 5, each band member 23 is provided with adhesive disposed along the lower surfaces 26 of the extremities of the band. Cover strips 27, having downwardly projecting pull tabs, cover the adhesive until such time as it is desired to mount the band on the club handle.

A center section 28 is free of adhesive and is adapted to be slightly spaced from the club handle surface by means of spacer strips 29. The spacer strips 29 may be relatively rigid plastic strips as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, or may include wires 31 disposed transverse to the length of the band in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7. A retainerpiece, which may preferably be a strip of adhesive tape 30, is used to hold the strips 29 or wires 31 in position on the underside of the band member 23;

The flange 24 is preferably detachably connected to the band 23. As best shown in FIG. 3, where the flange 24 is illustrated in phantom outline, the flange includes clip means 32 for attaching the flange to the band. The clip means 32 may comprise a U-shaped member having a guide 33 insertable beneath the center section 28 and between the spacer members 29. This insures correct alignment of the flange with respect to the band and the club handle.

Since the strips 29 are quite thin, the presence of the band 23 on the club handle is hardly noticeable when flange 24 is removed.

A preferred construction of the flange 24 is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The flange 24 may be formed from a single, unitary piece of foam rubber 36 and adhesively enclosed within a plastic outer envelope or cover 38. The resulting construction provides suflicient rigidity for proper hand positioning and yet is sufliciently flexible to prevent interference With the necessary flexure of the hands during the stroke of the club. This construction also permits a limited amount of repositioning of the.

hands with the flanges in place in the event the golfer wants to put a controlled amount of slice or hook on the ball. As a result there is no loss of record of the prior position following such temporary repositioning.

To obtain the maximum benefit from the hand positioners of the present invention it is necessary that each golf club, with the exception of the putter, have the hand positioners located and oriented in the same way as on the other clubs in the set. The present invention provides a means and a method for achieving this result.

To properly install the hand positioners 23 on the first club in a set, it is preferable, though not essential, that the golfer follow professional instructions in obtaining the proper grip on the first club. The sequence of installing the first set of hand positioners may then be as follows. The club handle 22 is gripped with the left hand, and a line is drawn by means of a colored pencil to the apex of the V between the thumb and forefinger. The flexible band 23 is then pressed into adhesive engagement with the club handle 22 at the angle and over the line thus drawn. The hand positioner 21 will thereafter correctly position the left hand when the flange 24 is positioned between the thumb and forefinger. The hand positioner for the right hand is attached to the club handle 22 in the same manner.

With reference now to FIG. 11 there is illustrated one form of a templet 41 for marking and transferring the hand positioner locations from club handle to club handle. The templet 41 is a clear plastic sheet which is scribed with a center line CL affording indicia corresponding to the center line CL on the club handle 22 (see FIG.

In the use of the templet 41, the center line CL of the templet is aligned with the center line CL of the club handle 22. This may be done with the bands 23 in place or with the bands 23 removed and the positions of thev flanges 24 marked on the club handle as indicated by the lines AB and CD in FIG. 10.

With the templet 41 in the proper position over the center line CL of the club handle 22, lines AB and CD are marked on the templet in register with the lines AB and CD on the club handle. The templet is next aligned with the center line CL of a second club handle and pins are pressedthrough the templet at the ends of the lines AB and CD and into the club handle 22 to mark the location and inclination for the hand positioners 21 for that club handle.

The templet 41 may also be used in conjunction with a headless pin 37 and pin holder 40 like that illustrated in FIG. 13. In this case the pin holder 40 is used to punch one pin 37 through the templet and into the club handle near the apex of the V between the thumb and forefinger with the left hand in the desired grip on the first club. A second pin is punched through the templet, at about point B, with the hand still in position, to establish the desired angle. After this has been repeated for the right hand position, the hands are removed and the templet is pulled over the pins, leaving the pins in place. Lines are drawn on the handle between the pins, the pins are removed, and the hand positioners are attached to the club handle.

The templet, with the pin holes punched therein is now used to mark the other clubs. All that is required is to align the center line of the templet with that of the club handle, press pins through the pre-punched holes,

A second form of templet 46, which requires no pins, is also provided by the present invention and is illustrated in FIG. 12. The templet 46 includes two sheets 47 and 48 pivotally connected together about a pivot 49 adjacent one lateral edge of the sheets.' An aperture 51, preferably a circular aperture as illustrated, is formed in each sheet. The apertures 51 are adapted to be swung into position over lines AB and CD corresponding to the positions and angular orientation of the left and right hand positioners, respectively, on the first club handle.

The method of transferring markings from one club handle to another by use of the templet 46 is as follows. The upper edge of the sheet 47 of the templet 46 is first positoned at a measured distance from the upper end of the club handle 22. The templet is adjusted laterally of the club handle until the aperture 51 in the sheet 47 is positioned over the left hand grip aid position as indicated by the points AB. These points are then marked on the templet adjacent the periphery of the aperture 51, and

the sheet 47 is held in place while the lower sheet.

48 is pivoted about the pivot 49 to position the aperture 51 over the right hand positioner. Points CD corresponding to the location and inclination of the right hand positioner are then marked on the sheet 48 adjacent the periphery of the aperture 51. Center line markings CL are marked on the sheets 47 and 48 in registry with the center line CL of the golf club handle. The templet is then positioned with the center line markings in registry with the center line of another club and at the proper distance from the end of the club. The hand positioner locations AB and CD are then marked directly on the club handle within the apertures 51.

The apertures 51 may be of varied configuration but the circular shape affords the greatest flexibility for insuring adequate provision for accommodating varied hand grips. A friction lock comprising a friction slide 53 within an arcuate slot 54 in the sheets 47 and 48 may be used as a convenience for retaining the sheets 47 and 48 in ajusted position from club handle to club handle.

This, in accordance with the present invention a hand positioner is provided which substantially eliminates inaccurate hand positioning on the golf club handle. Consistently accurate hand positioning is produced, and the tmeplet constructions described permit the hand positioner locations and orientations to be readily transferred from one club to other clubs in the set so that each club is gripped in the same manner.

Hence, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hand positioner adapted to be mounted on a golf club handle comprising a flexible band having adhesive disposed along the lower surfaces of the extremities of the band leaving a center section free of adhesive, spaced spacer means for spacing the center section from the handle surface on attachment of the band to the handle, a relatively rigid flange member insertable between the thumb and forefinger to locate the hand at the desired location and angle on the handle, and clip means on the flange member for detachably connecting the flange member to the center section of the band member, said clip means including a guide insertable beneath the center section of the band and between the spacer means.

2. A hand positioner as defined in claim 1 in which the spacer means include relatively rigid plastic strips disposed transverse to the length of the band.

3. A hand positioner, adapted to be mounted on a golf club handle comprising a flexible band having adhesive disposed along the lower surfaces of the extremities of the band leaving a center section free of adhesive, spaced spacer means for spacing the center section from the handle surface on attachment of the band to the handle, a relatively rigid flange member insertable between the thumb and forefinger to locate the hand at the desired location and angle on the handle, and clips means on the flange member for detachably connecting the flange memher to the center section of the band member, said clip means including a guide insertable beneath the center section of the band and between the spacer means, said spacer means including wire disposed transverse to the 10 length of the band.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

' GEORGE J. MARLO, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HAND POSITIONER ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A GOLF CLUB HANDLE COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE BAND HAVING ADHESIVE DISPOSED ALONG THE LOWER SURFACES OF THE EXTREMITIES OF THE BAND LEAVING A CENTER SECTION FREE OF ADHESIVE, SPACED SPACER MEANS FOR SPACING THE CENTER SECTION FROM THE HANDLE SURFACE ON ATTACHMENT OF THE BAND TO THE HANDLE, A RELATIVELY RIGID FLANGE MEMBER INSERTABLE BETWEEN THE THUMB AND FOREFINGER TO LOCATE THE HAND AT THE DESIRED LOCATION AND ANGLE ON THE HANDLE, A CLIP MEANS ON THE FLANGE MEMBER FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING THE FLANGE MEMBER TO THE CENTER SECTION OF THE BAND MEMBER, SAID CLIP MEANS INCLUDING A GUIDE INSERTABLE BENEATH THE CENTER SECTION OF THE BAND AND BETWEEN THE SPACER MEANS. 